Time slows, an echoing ratchet of clicks in my mind before resuming in a whirlwind of nostalgic familiarity, and I choke out, “What are you?”
His eyes lift to mine and hold, my breath catching at the reflection dancing in the cool fire there. “I’m yours.”
SEVENTEEN
TRUTHS AND SPECULATION
Zion
I’m on fire.
That’s the only way I can describe how I’m currently feeling. Vivian’s decision to run was short-lived. And once her name reverberated throughout the room, she stopped short, turned slowly, and then watched me in awe as she backed herself up against a wall.
Of course, she doesn’t know that I never actually spoke.
When this first started, I was inclined to question it, to push against it, but that’s no longer the case. Her name fell from my soul and not from my lips, that burning inferno in my chest leaving me no choice but to follow her.
Some way, somehow, it’s as if she calls to me. A silent hymn that’s tethered to my very being. Either she doesn’t feel it or she’s doing a much better job of ignoring it but there must have been something that made her stop.
I had stopped just shy of touching her, bracketing her head with both of my hands pressed against the wall behind her. We’re still not physically touching, but I feel her, the electricitythat entwines us, the sudden wash of contentment from being near her.
I watch her processing my declaration, slowly, her heartbeat steadies and then matches mine. She stares back at me, wide-eyed, her mouth slightly open, a line of worry creasing her brow as she shakes her head. Raising her hand between us, her palm hovers along my cheek as she whispers, “What’s happening?”
“Does it matter?” I ask automatically. For some strange reason, I’m not questioning any of it because it just is. Peace settles over me, accepting that destiny has collided so finitely, no amount of denial or fighting will change it now.
Her expression grows pained. Her eyes narrow slightly, but as she stares back at me, I see the blue flames dancing behind my reflection.
She remains silent. Her hand drops away, and she presses both palms against the wall behind her. Shaking her head ever so slightly, her expression turns pleading, and I watch her throat move as she swallows. I lean close, whispering, “Don’t try to tell me that you don’t believe in demons.”
Her jaw clenches as she shakes her head a bit harder. “I don’t want to.”
“It doesn’t matter what we want. This is what we get.”
“But if I refuse to believe it, then it doesn’t exist.”
“That only works for humans.”
“Iama damn human,” she snarls. She raises her hands between us, pushing her palms against my chest as if she’s going to shove me away, but as soon as she makes contact, she stops. All the tension and hostility drain from her body. Her expression grows soft. Her jaw eases, and this time, when her lips part, a sigh falls between us.
I push back from the wall, my hands moving and gripping hers firmly. I glance down, pulling her hands from my chest andadjusting our grip so we’re palm to palm, and this time, when my eyes move to hers, those blue flames have fully erupted.
Her eyes flit between our hands and mine, her expression turning completely awestruck. “Is this magic?”
I smile and shake my head. “Well, up until now, more of a mythical legend.”
She frowns slightly, cocking her head. “Soulmates?”
My smile broadens, a low chuckle falling between us as I reply, “In a way, but deeper than that. A bond that’s tethered to the very universe.”
“How do we break it?”
Now I frown, my hands gripping hers almost painfully as I pull her into me, so our faces are not even an inch apart. “We fucking don’t.”
Her lips twitch as my eyes narrow as understanding dawns, and then I add, “Why do you have to be such a goddamn brat?”
She smiles and then shrugs. “Just comes naturally.”
I lower our still clasped hands, giving her an assessing look. “Does this mean you’re going to stop trying to run?”
